As a resident of Verwoerdpark, Alberton, for several decades and someone who always pays my way in respect of service delivery, delivered or not, enough is enough.
About two years ago, Ekurhuleni installed new water meters in the area, unknown to me, and their poor workmanship resulted in a leak, underground, by the new meter.
With the onset of the water restrictions we made every effort to ensure that we saved water everywhere possible, but despite massive effort, there was virtually no decrease in the consumption on my account.
I employed the services of a plumber to carry out leak detection on my property, only to find that the problem lay with the meter, unfortunately on my side, which means I’m paying. The plumber explained that he was not allowed to carry out repairs on the municipal installation and I was to report it to Ekurhuleni for repair.
This was done on October 8, 2016. Following dozens of phone calls to the call centre on 086 054 3000, their ‘plumbers’ (011 907 3361), who turned out to be just a ‘consultant/middleman’, put me on to the next ‘plumbers’ (which is an engineering company, apparently) on 011 397 1419, but this phone number goes to a full mailbox.
They eventually came out and changed an o-ring, which was not even remotely the problem.
The paving would have to be dug up to repair where the meter is leaking, which is why I believe it has been ignored. We requested that they contact us so that we can be present when the repairs are carried out, but the only response we got was a photograph of the o-ring in the plumber’s hand and photos of the gate and meter to prove they were there. I cannot begin to express how frustrating this is. He could have stopped in the driveway, taken a photo of the o-ring and driven away without doing a thing, and we as tax payers are paying for this incompetence.
The water consumption is still as it was. I am still paying. Despite reporting again and again, following up again and again, I am still paying. With the looming threat of fines for excessive consumption paired with Ekurhuleni’s incompetence, I am at a loss for what exactly to do next. I have already suffered financially with the water I have paid for over the past two years, the leak detection that I have paid for and a leak that I am not allowed to repair.
I am sick and tired of poor service delivery, disgusting performance and incompetent staff depriving educated, competent people of jobs in the municipality. It’s time for change! This country desperately needs change.
Ken Jones
The RECORD sent this letter with questions to the municipality for comment but they have not replied.
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